Opposition demands Censure motion against Sadhvi

New Delhi, Dec 5 (PTI) The stalemate in Rajya Sabha persisted for the fourth day today with nine opposition parties calling for passage of a joint resolution condemning the remarks of Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti who, they said, deserves “outright removal”.

“We once again appeal to the government to accept a joint resolution condemning the attempts to outrage our Constitution by making inflammatory speeches aimed at dividing the syncretic, socio-cultural mosaic of our country’s rich diversity,” a joint statement said, pressing for a ‘Motion of Censure’ against the Minister.

Signed by Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (United), BSP, CPI, CPI(M), DMK and NCP, the statement said that “despite the cooperation” extended by them in the Upper House, government continued to remain “obdurate” and “highly unreasonable”.

“This unfortunately leaves us with no option but to continue with our protest demanding that such remarks aimed at sharpening communal polarisation in the country for narrow partisan, political and electoral gains is not acceptable,” it said.

The parties said that they informed the Business Advisory Committee yesterday that they would propose a ‘Motion of Censure’ in the House to the effect that such comments coming from an MP and a member of the Union Council of Ministers is not acceptable and deserves to be condemned.

“Unfortunately, we have been informed now that the government does not accept our reasonable proposal. All through this period, we have shown restraint. Though disappointed, we heard the Prime Minister without an interruption and then made such a proposal,” they said.

Holding that such “outrageous” remarks run against the grain of the country’s pluralistic ethos and the spirit of its secular and democratic Constitution, they said it warranted “outright removal of the concerned minister”.